Whether he's behind the dental chair or hosting family dinners with his homemade pasta, Dr. Andrew Lewis has a smile that makes people feel at ease. As the friendly face of his Topeka dental practice, Jowett & Lewis Family Dentistry, he’s all about making patients feel welcome and cared for.
Dr. Lewis has been a dentist for 13 years, spending time in Oklahoma and Arizona before settling in Topeka. “I practiced in Arizona for about eight years,” he recalls. “But I started looking around the country for a practice to buy and ended up in Topeka. I met Dr. Ted Jowett, who was selling his practice, and we just clicked.”
And that’s Dr. Lewis in a nutshell … someone who clicks with people. A self-proclaimed goofball, he’s known for keeping things light-hearted with his patients, creating an atmosphere where dental care feels less daunting. “I like to crack jokes and make people laugh. It’s really about making the experience enjoyable for them,” he says. But don’t be fooled by the laid-back demeanor. He’s serious about dentistry.
Dr. Lewis told us about a procedure they offer called PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma). "We place the PRP where the patient's tooth was extracted or surgery was done. Your body uses your own concentrated platelets to heal faster." PRP is especially beneficial for people with diabetes or autoimmune diseases who may have delayed healing.
Dr. Lewis is also a proud member of the Army Reserve, which he’s been a part of for the last five years. His journey into the military started later in life, but it was always on his mind. “I was going to join the Navy when I was seventeen, but life took me in a different direction. After dental school, I felt like I should have done it, so when the opportunity came around, I jumped at it,” he explains. “It might sound cliche, but I’ve always felt like I needed to support the country that I live in. I didn’t want to be a quiet patriot.”
Dr. Lewis's decision to settle in Topeka wasn’t just about finding the perfect dental practice. It was about finding a place for his family to thrive. His wife, Tania, and their two kids, Ethan and Ivy, have fallen in love with Topeka. Tania shares, “We’ve lived all over, but there’s something about the Midwest. The people are friendly, it’s a great place to raise a family, and Topeka has everything we need. We do a lot of hiking, walking, and even kayaking.”
Ethan, their nine-year-old son, is a budding violinist and swims for the Topeka Swim Association, while five-year-old Ivy has recently taken up gymnastics after deciding ballet wasn’t active enough for her. The Lewis family is settled on a bit of land just outside of town, complete with chickens that are more pets than farm animals. “We don’t eat the chickens, just the eggs,” Tania laughs.
When Dr. Lewis isn’t busy with patients or his Army Reserve duties, you’ll likely find him in the garden. “I have a terrible green thumb,” he admits with a grin. “The only plants that grow are things the family doesn’t really want to eat like radishes, cucumbers, and zucchini. So I’m the one munching on bundles of radishes.” But that doesn’t stop him from trying, and it ties into his other passion - cooking.
“If Andrew wasn’t a dentist, he’d be a chef,” Tania reveals. “He does a lot of scratch cooking. He makes his own donuts, tortillas, even veggie meat, because we’re vegetarians.” Dr. Lewis chimes in, “We’re lazy vegetarians. We cheat sometimes, but I enjoy making food from scratch. It’s fun, and it’s a great way for me to unwind.”
Though Topeka wasn’t initially on Dr. Lewis’s radar, it’s clear he and his family have found their place. “We’ve lived in a lot of places, but there’s just something about Topeka,” he says. “It’s close enough to Kansas City if we need a bigger city vibe, but it’s also peaceful, and the people are the salt of the earth.”
From the dental chair to his backyard garden, Dr. Andrew Lewis brings warmth, humor, and a genuine love for his community. If you’re looking for a dentist who will make you laugh while taking great care of your smile, he’s your guy.
Visit jlfamilydentistry.com.
“We’ve lived in a lot of places, but there’s just something about Topeka, the people are the salt of the earth."